AAA OF TIDEWATER VIRGINIA
Peninsula division of AAA of Tidewater Virginia. 305 Martha Lee Drive, Hampton, managed by James W. Owen. Provides auto travel and travel agency services and emergency road service. Memberships: Family of two adults with one car, $40 first year, $22 for renewal. Fees are slightly higher for additional family members or automobiles. There are also special fees for widows and widowers. Fee to add additional automobiles, vans or pick-up trucks is $10. The fee is the same for recreational vehicles, including motor homes, but tire changes and towing are not included. To contact the Peninsula office of the AAA of Tidewater, call 826-1061.
BUS SERVICE
* Pentran: Public transportation in Newport News and Hampton. The information center, at 3400 Victoria Blvd. Hampton, is open from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Service operation hours, 5 a.m.-midnight, vary with different routes. The phone number is 723-3344.
Fares: Basic fare, $1. Youth through high school, 50 cents, ID may be required. Infants and toddlers ride free when accompanied by a fare-paying passenger. First child under 36 inches will ride free when accompanied by a fare-paying passenger; all additional children, 50 cents. Students 50 cents, current college, university or technical school picture ID card and Pentran sticker required. Sticker fee is $10. Shipyard express, $1.25. Senior citizens and disabled, 50 cents. Handi-ride service, $2 for a one-way ticket.
* James City County Transit Co.: Public transportation to Bruton, James City County and Williamsburg. Monday-Saturday from 6:15 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. The office is located at 107 Tewning Road, Williamsburg. Call 220-1621. Fares: Basic fare, $1 per one-way trip. An extra 25 cents per zone. No charge for children under 6 who don’t occupy a seat and are accompanied by an adult. Senior citizens over 60 can get a 20 percent discount on ticket books of 10 and 25. Proof of age is required.
FERRY SERVICE
The 24-hour daily ferry service across the James River connects Jamestown to Scotland Wharf. One-way fare is $4 for adults and children. The ferry is located on Highway 31. For ferry schedules, call 294-3354.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce helps people moving to the Peninsula by being a focal point for information. The chamber also has available a resource guide and a newcomer’s packet.
The resource guide is a complete compendium for doing business on the Peninsula. The newcomer’s packet contains information about the area for the new-to-the-area resident on homes or apartments, schools, hospitals, day care centers, tax information, utilities, local colleges and universities, and contains the history of the Peninsula. Included with the packet is a Peninsula street map.
Both the resource guide and the newcomer’s packet may be purchased at the chamber office or ordered by calling 766-2000. The chamber’s education division includes BIG-Ed (Business Industry Government-Education), a collaborative effort that is working to ensure that students will be employable and business will have the opportunity to hire a skilled, qualified work force.
* Hampton: 6 Manhattan Square, Hampton. Located in the Central Park complex on the corner of Butler Farm Road and Magruder Boulevard, the chamber offers apartment guides, real estate directories and, for $5, a newcomer’s packet that includes a local map. Call 766-2000.
* Williamsburg: The Williamsburg Area Chamber of Commerce offers free brochures on area attractions, hotels and motels and restaurants in addition to a wide variety of programs for the business community. It is located at 201 Penniman Road, Williamsburg. Call 229-6511.
* Gloucester: For free maps, brochures and advice about Gloucester’s historic sites, restaurants and other attractions, call 693-2425. The office is located in the Coca Cola Building.
* Mathews: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Call 725-9029. Free brochures available. Executive secretary, Faye Hutchinson.
* Isle of Wight County/Smithfield: New residents may call the Isle of Wight/Smithfield Chamber of Commerce at 357-3502 and ask for a packet of newcomer materials or stop by the office at 132 Main St., Smithfield.
* Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Suffolk Division: Located at 1001 W. Washington St. New residents may receive city fact sheets, maps, membership directories. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 539-2111.
* West Point Chamber of Commerce: 843-4620, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday. Free maps, brochures, advice.
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE
735 Middle Ground Blvd., Oyster Point business park, Newport News. Hours: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. There also are privately owned businesses that serve as UPS package pickup points. UPS charges the outlets the same mailing price you would pay at the UPS facility, although some places charge a small fee above the UPS cost. For a list of some outlets in your area, call (800) 742-5877.
VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION
Consists of three divisions: the Economic Information Service Division (EIS); the Job Service Division (JS) and the Unemployment Insurance Service Division (UIS).
* Newport News: 6012 Jefferson Ave., job service office, 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 247-2080.
* Hampton: 4911 W. Mercury Blvd., job service office, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 825-7850.
Hampton: 1320 LaSalle Ave., job service office, 727-4884; unemployment insurance services, 727-4886.
Suffolk: 2019 Meade Parkway, job service office, 925-2376; and unemployment insurance services, 925-2377.
Williamsburg: 5235 John Tyler Highway, job service office, 253-4820; unemployment insurance services, 253-4738.
